Shadow work is the practice of meeting the parts of ourselves we’ve learned to hide—the fears, desires, wounds, instincts, and even the magic we were taught was “too much” or “not acceptable.”

In this episode of Witch Beneath the Willow, we explore shadow work as a form of sacred self-care, weaving together Jungian psychology, witchcraft, mythic descent, and gentle lived experience. This is a soft, lantern-lit introduction to the shadow self—what it is, how it forms, why it influences our lives, and how learning to acknowledge it can bring healing, wholeness, and deeper self-trust.

We talk about:

• What shadow work actually is (and what it is not)

• How the shadow self forms through childhood, culture, and survival

• Why shadow work can feel emotionally intense—and why that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong

• The connection between shadow work, self-care, and magical life force

• How witchcraft, myth, and ancient traditions have always honored journeys into the dark

• Practical, gentle ways to begin shadow work through journaling, ritual, meditation, and support

• The importance of professional mental health care alongside spiritual practice

• Reclaiming the wild self—the instinctual, feeling, human parts of us that long to be seen

This episode closes with a Living the Spell segment, including beginner-friendly shadow work journal prompts, a soothing tea blend for emotional aftercare, and an affirmation for radical self-acceptance.

Shadow work is not about fixing yourself.
It’s about bringing every part of you home.

Please note: Witchcraft and at-home practices are not a substitute for professional mental health support. If shadow work becomes overwhelming, it is okay to pause, rest, and seek help. You are never required to push through pain to be worthy of healing.

If you’d like to support Witch Beneath the Willow and help keep these episodes growing beneath the branches, you can visit my Ko-fi. Your support helps fund research, recording time, and the creation of future rituals, reflections, and stories—and it is deeply appreciated.

If this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who may need permission to meet themselves with a little more gentleness.

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Journal Prompts:

• What parts of myself did I learn to hide in order to be loved?

• What emotion do I judge most harshly—and where does it live in me?

• What part of me is asking to be witnessed rather than fixed?